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EA launches computer games study with Futurelab
9 August 2005 |
Electronic Arts, the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, and Futurelab, an organisation dedicated to researching, developing and evaluating new technologies for learning, are teaming up to launch a European study into how computer games can be used in schools. The research project, named Teaching with Games, will begin in September 2005. It aims to explore the practical issues surrounding the use of interactive computer games in schools and the changes needed to better support learning in schools across Europe.
The study will look at what children can learn from computer games, how best to introduce games into the classroom and what changes might be required to make them relevant to the educational environment. Computer games are beginning to be introduced to schools but do they really work as a tool for education? The practicalities of using games in the classroom will be explored through trials in selected secondary schools in the UK.
The project will also investigate current attitudes of both educators and students towards games and their use in the classroom. The results, expected in August 2006, will assist the development of supporting materials for the use of games in classrooms and contribute to the development of educational computer games in the future.
Annika Small, Managing Director at Futurelab, said: "There has been a lot of interest in using computer games for learning but to date no one has really investigated what young people might be able to learn from games and how they might best be introduced in schools. We propose to do this by working closely with teachers and students to design new support materials for use with commercial games. We will evaluate the success of these materials and identify aspects of games that developers could make more relevant to an educational environment. This way we will begin to produce a road map for educators across Europe and go some way to being able to help game developers understand how they could produce games that are well-received in the educational market."
Claus Due, Market Development Manager, EA Europe, commented: "We entered into this project with Futurelab as we believe that children can and already do learn a lot through computer games. EA recognises that interactive computer games engage the brain like no other media and we are keen to see how this can be applied to learning."
Claus Due continues: "We know that games offer plenty of intellectual challenge and stimulation. It seems sensible for the education sector and games industry to come together to look more closely at ways of cooperating. We believe this project will lead the way in recognising what games developers and educators must do to ensure that gaming in education supports both the teaching and learning goals of today and tomorrow."
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